The tick, widely distributed in the southeastern and eastern United States, is spreading to even more areas, including Minnesota, New Hampshire and Long Island, New York, and is making people allergic to just a single bite of meat.

According to Wired.com, something in the tick bite makes people sensitive to the sugar compound alpha-galactose, or alpha-gal, found in meat from mammals.

And unlike most allergies, which are dependent on a mix of genetic and environmental factors, alpha-gal allergies seem to affect anyone and everyone, regardless of genetic makeup, Wired reported.

A close-up of an adult female deer tick (left), Lone Star tick (middle) and dog tick (right). The Lone Star tick received its name from the pronounced white dot in the center of the adult female’s back. (Photo By Getty Images)

"This map shows the extent of established Amblyomma americanum tick populations, commonly known as Lone Star ticks. However, tick abundance within this area varies locally. The map does not represent the risk of contracting any specific tickborne illness." - CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention